CAFTA-DR

The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA-DR, is the comprehensive pact among the United Sates, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. CAFTA-DR was implemented on a rolling basis. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua joined in 2006, the Dominican Republic in 2007, and Costa Rica on January 1, 2009. The agreement was designed to level the playing field between the United States and the six CAFTA-DR trade partners.

As the agreement took effect with each country, more than half of U.S. farm exports gained immediate duty-free access, including high-quality cuts of beef, soybeans, cotton, wheat, many fruits and vegetables, and processed food products. Tariffs on most other U.S. farm products will be phased out within 15 years. All tariffs will be eliminated in 20 years.

As the populations of the CAFTA-DR countries grow and their economies expand, more and more people are entering he middle class, increasing food demand and creating trade and investment opportunities for the United States.

Additional information about the CAFTA-DR agreement is available from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Data and Analysis

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Fact Sheet

Commodity Fact Sheets - U.S. Ag Trade Policy Advances

Since USDA first established a stand-alone mission area focusing on trade and international affairs in 2017, USDA’s Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and the Foreign Agricultural Service, have made significant trade policy advances to support U.S. agriculture. This series of commodity fact sheets highlights the many recent trade policy advances achieved by USDA.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic Activates CAFTA-DR Safeguard Mechanism for Mozzarella Cheese from the United States

The Dominican Republic, through its Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SME’s (MICM), announced the activation of the CAFTA-DR agricultural safeguard measure for imports of mozzarella cheese from the United States on May 22, 2024.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic Activates CAFTA-DR Safeguard Mechanism for Chicken Leg Quarters from the United States

The Dominican Republic, through its Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SME’s (MICM), announced the activation of the CAFTA-DR agricultural safeguard measure for imports of chicken leg quarters (CLQ’s) from the United States on October 30, 2023.

News and Features

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News Release

USDA Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary Taylor Kicks Off Central America-Dominican Republic Trade Mission to Panama

USDA's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor arrived in Panama City today to launch an agribusiness trade mission. Taylor and a delegation of representatives from agribusiness and farm organizations and state departments of agriculture look to develop stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United States and Panama and markets throughout CAFTA-DR region.
News Release

Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary to Lead Trade Mission to Panama

USDA's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead a delegation of 26 agribusinesses and farm organizations to Panama City, Panama, from March 19 to 23.
Feature

CAFTA-DR: A Trade Partnership that Works

By Jason Hafemeister, Trade Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney is leading a USDA trade mission to Central America this week, making it a good time to review where we stand...